Control valve for car doors



2 Sheets-Sheet l A. F. PAUL Jan. 27, 1931.

CONTROL VALVE FOR CAR DOORS Filed June 6 1925 A. F. PAUL Jan. 27, 1931;

CONTROL VALVEFOR CAR DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1925 owntor QE Patented Jan. 27, '1931 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE ABRAM FRANK PAUL, F UPPER DARBY BRANCH, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATIONOF WEST VIRGINIA CONTROL VALVE FOR CAR DOORS Application filed June 6,

I ployed, the doors are individually controlled through'separate valveseach having its own operating handle and this arrangement is duplicatedfor each door.

The object of the present invention is to provide a valve adapted tocontrol in a truly selective manner the opening and closing of each of aplurality of doors individually. In other words. it is the purpose ofthis invention to provide for the selective operation of a plurality ofdoors through the utilization of a single valve having a single controlhandle. This, so far as I am aware, has never before been accomplished.

While the invention may partake of different practical forms, itsunderlying principle contemplates, generally speaking, the employment ofa valve comprising a casing having a compressed air inlet duct and anexhaust duct, and also embodying a number of ports which individuallycommunicate with the pneumatic engines of the doors to be controlled.The ports terminate in a common surface over which a cup valve ismounted for sliding movement and is adapted to be manually shifted by asingle handle to partake of different positions. The ports are sodisposed with reference to one another and to the exhaust duct thatthrough movement of the sliding cup, oneor more ports may be placed incommunication with the ex; haust duct, while additional ports will be incommunication with the pressure duct.

\Vhile the invention is shown as applied to door motors, it is to beunderstood that it can be used in connection with any fluid pressuresystem where selective control is desired. Furthermore, while I haveshown my invention as applied to a pneumatic system. it is to beunderstood that I do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto, asthe features thereof may be equally well applied in various'othersystems, tor example, in an 1925. Serial No. 35,497.

electrical control system and my claims are, therefore, to be viewed inthis light.

The valve is so connected with the respective pneumatic motors thatthrough sliding movement of the cup, the motors can be individually orcollectively controlled merely through the manipulation of the unitaryhandle.

The construction is unusually simple and enables me to employ a singlevalve to accomplish in a more efficient and expeditious manner what hasheretofore required the use of several valves to accomplish.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparentfrom the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawings and finallypointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 shows a valve casing embodying the i present invention in centralsection and in this view the sliding cup is also shown in centralsection in the interest of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a view looking from the right hand side of Fig. 1 with the endplate of the valve casing and the sliding cup and operating arm removed.In this view, moreover, I have shown diagrammatically the manner inwhich the pneumatic engines of four doors are operatively connected withthe valve.

Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of a bottom plate of the casing.

Figure 4 is .a view similar to Figure, 2,'but showing a modified form ofconstruction for selectively controlling two door engines.

Figure 5 is a detail showing of the connection between the operating armand the sliding cup and Figure 6 is a section on the line 6.-6 of Figure5.

Referring first to the construction of Figures 1, 2 and 3, the valvecasing is shown as comprising the valve body 1, end plates 2 and 3, anda bottom plate 4. These plates are held in place by suitable bolts orstuds, so as to firmly hold the parts in assembled relation.

One face 5 of the valve-body 1 is-machined true and over thisface isadapted to slide a sealing member 6, shown in the form of a cup. Theopen side of the cup is ground true to slideover the face 5 and the cupis held in engagement with said face by means of a spring 7 which actsupon a follower 8 hearing against the on A set screw or plug 9 isthreaded into t e end plate 3 and bears against the end of the spring 7to place it under the desired tension in order that it may force thefollower against the cup and hold the cup against the face 5 of thevalve body.

Movement is imparted to the cup 6 by an operating arm 10 which isprovided intermediate its ends with a spherical portion 11, interfitted.with two semi spherical seats formed between the valve body and the endplate 2, so that these seats form with the part 11, a ball and socketjoint to mount the operating arm for universal movement. From one sideof the spherical part 11 the operating arm extends into a socket 12formed in the center of a cup and said arm has a rounded end providedwith radially extending lugs 13 working in slots 14 in the hub at thecenter of the cup, so that the cup is locked against rotation to theoperating arm, but is capable of sliding movement over the entiresurface 5. A handle 14 is associated with the other end of the operatingarm and serves as a prime mover for actuating the cup.

Compressed air for operating the several door engines is fed to thehollow interior of the end plate 3 through a pipe 15 and a passage 16formed in said end plate and said pressure circulates broadcastthroughout the chamber 17 which is interiorly of the end plate and inwhich chamber the slide cup travels.

The center of the body 1 is cut away as shown at 18, so that theoperating arm may extend therethrough and from the side of this cut awayportion at any convenient point extends a passage 19 which leads to thelower face 20 of the valve body and constitutes the common exhaust forspent air. A number of additional passages are formed in the valve body1 and extend from the surface 5 to the surface 20 and while the numberof these passages will of course vary as the number of doors to becontrolled will vary, I have shown, for the purpose of illustration,eight passages for controlling the operations of four doors. The enginesby which these doors are operated are diagrammatically illustrated inFigure 2 and are designated A,

B, C, and D. Each has the usual piston and in Order to operate thempneumatically the opposite ends of each engine cylinder is provided witha pneumatic connection for the communication of pressure to therespective ends of the piston.

' gine cylinders lead to the face 5 and the engines are controlled bymoving the sliding cup over said face. There are thus eight passagesformed in the valve body in addition to the single, exhaust'passagelt)and these passages will now be specifically designated.

Passages 21 and 21a lead to the respective ends of the cylinder of theengine A. The passages 22 and 22a lead to the respective ends of thecylinder of the engine B. The passages 23 and 28a lead to the respectiveends of the cylinder of the engine C, and the passages 24 and24a lead tothe respective ends of the cylinders of the engine I).

It will be noted that the outer series of ports of the passages 21, 22,23 and 24 are juxtaposed with the inner series of ports 24a, 23a, 22aand 21a, respectively, but are spaced apart in'a radial direction, whilethe two ports of each engine are on diametrically opposite sides of thecenter of the arrangen'ient with one port for each cylinder in the outerseries and the other port of the corresponding engine in the innerseries. The ports are so disposed with respect to one another, and thesliding cup 6 so proportioned, that when the cup occupies the centralposition shown in dot and dish lines in Figure 2, all the ports 22a,21a, 23a and 21a will be within the hollow of the cup, while theremaining ports 21, 24 and 23 will be exterior of the cup. In otherWords, the ports 22a, 24a, 23a and 21a will be placed in communication,through the interior of the cup and the cutaway portion 18 of the valvebody, to the common exhaust passage 19 and at the same time the ports21, 22, 24 and 23 will be in open communication with the pressure fromthe pressure passage 16. The motors are so connected that when the portsare in this relation, all of the doors will be closed. i

It will be apparent, however, that if the handle 14 is lowered to movethe sliding cup 6 straight up in Figure 2 to bring both the ports 21 and24a interiorly of the cup and both the ports 21a and 24 exteriorly ofthe cup, the relationship between the ports 22 and 23 and 22a and 23awill remain the same as a before, but the port 21a will have been placedin communication with the pressure chamber while the port 21 will havebeen placed in communication with the exhaust passage. Accordingly,pressure will act through the duct 21a to move the poston of thepneumatic motor A in a direction to effect the opening of thecorresponding door. If the movement of the handle which has beendescribed is now reversed so that the parts are brought back to initialposition, the initial relationship between the sliding cup and the portswill result so that the piston of the engine A will be returned to itsinitial position.

I If it is desired to simultaneously open both out.

the doors associated with the engines A and B, the handle is moved toshift the cup 6 in an upward diagonal direction, so that while scribed,to effect the door opening operation of the engine A and at the sametime, pressure will act through the port 22a to effect the door openingoperation of the engine B, while both of said engines will besimultaneously vented through the ports and passages 21 and 22.

In like manner any one or two doors may be simultaneously opened bymoving the sliding cup out of its central position. Any door may beimmediately closed or all doors maybe simultaneously closed by bringingthe cup to the central position. I will not attempt to describe all thedifferent combinations which may be obtained as they will be clear tothose skilled in the art. The operations which I have described in thisconnection, however, are illustrative of many which can be carried Ifind it desirable to provide a slight depression 25 at the center of theouter face of the cup 6, so that when the cup is in its centralposition, the follower 8 will seat in this depression, as clearly shownin Figure 5, and ho d the cup against inadvertent shifting.

' It may be here noted that the plate 4 isshown as formed separate fromthe valve This is for the purpose of facilitating the connection ofpiping from the several engines, although, in

practice, the piping may be connecteddirect- 1y to the valve body.

In Figure 4, I have shown a slightly different arrangement for thecontrolling of the engines of two doors. In this showing 26 is apressure duct and 27 the exhaust passage which leads from the centralcut away portion to the valve body. 6' is a sliding cup constructed aspreviously described. F oureating with the engine E and the ducts 28 and30 communicating with the ends of the engine F. When the cup 6 is in theposition shown in this figure, the passages 28 and 31 are incommunication with the exhaust 27 through the interior of the cup, Whilethe passages 29 and 30 are in communication exteriorly of the cup withthe pressure duct 26. Accordingly, the door-engine F will be in aposition to maintain the door open and the door engine E will be in aposition to maintain the door E closed. Now, if it is desired to closethe door F, while the door E is maintained closed, the cup is slidthrough movement of the handle, as before, in a downward direction touncover the passage 28 and cover the passage 30. Pressure will thereuponbe admitted through the passage 28 to actuate the engine in the oppositedirection, while the other end of the engine is simultaneously ventedthrough the passage 30, so that both doors will be closed. If it shouldbe desired to open the door E without opening the door F, the cup ismoved to simultaneously cover the passages 29 and 28 and to uncover thepassages 30 and 31, whereupon the engine E will be operated to open thedoor.

In like manner,'the sliding cup may be operated to control the doorselectively, although both doors may be opened and closed"simultaneously as will be apparent to those.

skilled in the art.

Valves embodying the present invention are of great utility forcontrolling car doors because of the many combinations of dooroperations of which they are capable. For example, in a four door car,it is possible to open and close the two front doors selectively,'or thetwo doors on the right hand side of the car selectively, or the twodoors on the left hand side of the car selectively, or the two doors atthe rear of the car selectively.

The arrangement is highly desirable on cars of the Boston type used insubways where there are island platforms and where at one station aselective control of the doors on one side of the car may be desired andat another station the selective control of the doors at the oppositeside of the car should be made.

On some of the modern cars, there are as many as eight doors engines andin such a case only two of my valves would be necessary per car tocontrol selectively the eight door en-' gines in the grouping that wouldbe desirable for traflic conditions. For instance, the four doors onthefront platform could be selectively controlled or the four doors on theright hand side of the car could be grouped into one valve, or the fourdoors on the left hand side of the car grouped to the other valve,

so that a very effective control of all of thedoors might be selectivelyobtained through the employment of two valves, whereas heretofore asmany as eight valves have been used in cars of this type.

I have referred in the foregoing detailed description to the depression25 at the center of the sliding cup to be engaged by the follower 8 whenthe cup is in a central position in the construction of Figures 1 to 3.'In' some cases, it may be desirable to have as many depressions in theouter face of the cup as there are operative positions of the Valve, sothat the follower willengage with one of these depressions in any of itsoperative positions,'in order to hold the cup against inadvertentshifting. This and other details of construction will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, and the present invention is therefore notlimited to the specific structures shown, but is to be considered asfully commensurate with the appended claims.

Therefore, having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention,and having shown-and described an operative structure embodying theprinciples thereof, what I claim as new and of my own invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent .is:

1. A valve comprising a valve body provided with a smooth face fromwhich extend a plurality of ducts, a hollow cup mounted to slide over.said face, a universally mounted handle connected to said cup to shiftthe cup over the surface and into different positions to effect aplurality of passages in communication with one another through theinterior of the cup and to simultaneously effect a second plurality ofpassages in communication with one another without the cup.

2. A valve comprising a valve body having a smooth surface from whichextend a plurality of passages, a hollow cup slidable over said surface,the interior of which cup is at all times in communication with anexhaust duct, a housing for enclosing the cup and the ends of all ofsaid passages, the interior of which housing is in constantcommunication with a source of fluid under pressure, and 'meansincluding a universally mounted handle for translating the cup over saidsurface in any direction to place one or more of the passages incommunication with the exhaust duct, and to simultaneously permit fluidunder pressure to pass through tit other of said passages.

A valve comprising a valve body having a smooth surface from whichextend a plurality of passages, a hollow cup slidable over said surface,the interior of which cup is at all times in communication with anexhaust duct. a housing for enclosing the cup and the ends of all ofsaid passages, the interior of which housing is in constantcommunication with a source of fluid under pressure, an operating membermounted for universal movement, one end of the operating member beingsecured to the cup and the other end of the operating member beingprovided with a manually operable handle, whereby the cup maybe shiftedin any direction over said surface by manipulation of the handle for thepurpose of placing one or more of the passages in communication with theexhaust port and for simultaneously permitting fluid under pressure topass through other of said passages. 4. A valve comprising a valve bodyhav-' ing a smooth surface from which extend a plurality of passages, ahollow cup slidable over said surface, the interior of which cup is atall times in communication with an exhaust duct, a housing for enclosingthe cup and the ends of all of said passages, the interior of whichhousing is in constant communication with a source of fluid underpressure, an operating member mounted f or universal nuwement, one endof the operating member being secured to the cup against relativerotation with respect thereto, and the other end of the operating memberbe ing provided with a manually operable handle, whereby the cup may betranslated in any direction over said surface bymanipn: lation of thehandle for the purpose of placing one or more of the passages incommunication with the exhaust duct and for simultaneously permittingfluid under pressure to pass through other of said passages.

5. A valve comprising a valve body having a smooth surface from whichextend a plurality of passages, a-hollow cup slidable over said surface,the interior of which cup is at all times incommunication with anexhaust duct,a housing for enclosing the cup and the endsof all of saidpassages, the interior of which housing is in constant communicationwith a source of fluid under pressure, an operating member mounted foruniversal movement, one end of the operating member being secured to thecup and the other end of the operating member being provided with amanually operable handle, whereby the cup may be shifted in anydirection over said surface by manipulation of the handle forthe purposeof placing one or more of the passages in communication with the exhaustport and for simultaneously permitting fluid under pressure to passthrough other of said passages, and a spring pressed plunger carried bythe housing and bearing against the cup to maintain said cup at alltimes in engagement with said surface under elastic pressure. p

-(S. In an assembly of the character described, the combination with aplurality of door operating engines, of a valve having a 'alve bodyprovided with a smooth surface from whicha plurality of passages lead tothe opposite ends of the respective door engines, a hollow cup mountedto slide over said surface, the interior of said cup being in constantcomnumication with an exhaust port, a housing associated with the valvebody and covering the free ends of the passages and the cup and havingan interior chamber in constant communication with the source of fluidunder pressure, and universally mounted means connected to said cup fortranslating the same in any direction over said surface to place one ormore of the passages in connnunication with the exhaust duct and tosimultaneously uncover other passages to permit the flow of compressedair through said latter passages to the uoor engine or engines.

7. In an assembly of the character described, the combination with aplurality of door operatingengines, of a valve having a valve bodyprovided with asmooth surface from which a plurality of passages lead tothe'opposite ends of the respective door engines, a hollow cup mountedto slide over said surface, the interior of said cup being in constantcommunication with an exhaust duet, a housing associated with the valvebody and covering the free ends of the passages and the cup and havingan interior chamber in constant communication with the source of fluidunder pressure, and a manually operable controller member fortranslating the cup over said surface to place one or more of thepassages in communication with the exhaust duct and to simultaneouslyuncover other passages to permit the flow of compressed air through saidlatter passages to the door engine or engines.

- 8. In an assembly of the character described, the combination with aplurality of door operating engines, of a valve having a valve bodyprovided with a smooth surface from which a plurality of passages leadto the opposite ends of the respective door engines, a hollow cupmounted to slide and translate over said surface, the interior of saidcup being in constant communication with an exhaust duct, a housingassociated with the valve body and covering the free ends of thepassages and the cup and having an interior chamber in constantcommunication with the source of fluid under pressure, means forshifting the cup in any direction over said surface to place one or moreof the passages in communication with the exhaust duct and tosimultaneously uncover other passages to permit the flow of compressedair through said latter passages to the door engine or engines, and aspring pressed plunger carried by the housing and bearing against thecup to maintain the latter at all times in engagement with said surfaceunder elastic pressure.

9. The combination with a plurality of door operating engines, of avalve mechanism for controlling said engines including a valve seat anda rectangular hollow cup adapted to slidable translation over said seat,and a universally mounted operating member connected to said cupinternally thereof to cause the same to slide over said surface andselectively control the engines connected to said valve.

10. The combination with a plurality of translation over said seat, aninlet port and an exhaust port connected tosaid valve and so disposedthat the exhaust port is always within said cup while fluid pressurefrom the inlet port is always without said cup, a plurality of passagesopening into the valve seat some within and some without the'cup, andmeans including a universally mounted handle for translating said cup toselectively make communication between desired passages.

12. The structure recited in claim 11 characterized in that the valveseat is carried in a housing which provides means for supporting theuniversally mounted handle.

13. A valve comprising a valve seat, a rectangular hollow cup adapted toslidable translation over said seat, an inlet port and anexhaust portconnected to said valve and so disposed that the exhaust port is alwayswithin said cup while fluid pressure from the inlet port is alwayswithout said cup, a plurality of passages opening into the valve seatnormally out of communication with each other, some within and somewithout the cup, and means including a universally mounted handleattached to said cup to selectively place in communication at least fournormally non-communicating passages.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 1st day of JuneA. D., 1925.

A. FRANK PAUL.

door operating engines, of a valve meeha 11. Avalve comprising a valveseat, a rectangular hollow cup adapted to slidable

